Alexander Zverev says he’ll be biggest Daniil Medvedev fan in Carlos Alcaraz ATP Finals clash
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Germany's Alexander Zverev returns the ball to Russia's Daniil Medvedev during their round-robin match at the ATP Finals.
PHOTO: AFP
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TURIN – Alexander Zverev will be cheering on Daniil Medvedev to beat second seed Carlos Alcaraz at the ATP Finals on Friday, as it will boost his chances of reaching the semi-finals of the season-ending event in Turin, Italy.
Medvedev became the first player through to the semis on Wednesday with a 7-6 (9-7), 6-4 victory over Zverev, and the German now needs the third seed to beat the 20-year-old Alcaraz.
Alcaraz, who is looking to become the youngest ATP Finals champion since Pete Sampras in 1991, eased to a 7-5, 6-2 win over Andrey Rublev to revive his hopes in the Red Group after he had opened with defeat by Zverev.
Zverev and Alcaraz have entered the final round of group play at 1-1. The former will next face Rublev.
“I’ve never won a second round-robin match at this event and I won the tournament twice, said Zverev.
“That obviously gives me hope. On Friday, I’ll be the No. 1 Daniil Medvedev fan there is on this planet, for a change. We’ll see how it goes.
“It’s a little bit out of my hands... I have to be focused and be ready, ready to beat Andrey.”
Medvedev said he understood why Zverev wants him to win, but it would not be an easy match against the two-time Grand Slam winner Alcaraz.
“It’s normal. I would be the same,” the Russian said. “I’m going to try my best to play Carlos.
“It is not easy. But here, fast court, so it can be interesting. The moment you relax, you can lose all the rhythm. That’s how tennis is.”
Zverev may have lost, but he has inspired the fiery Australian Nick Kyrgios, who said he is doing everything he can to get back on court as he recovers from serious injury.
Zverev suffered an ankle injury in the 2022 French Open
He needed surgery and complications derailed the rest of his season, but he has fought back and is once again inside the top 10.
Kyrgios had knee surgery in January
He is yet to set a date for his return, and told the Tennis Channel “the stars have to align a little bit”.
“I’m so hungry to get back out there,” he told the broadcaster late on Wednesday on the sidelines of the ATP Finals, where he made his debut in the commentary box during the Zverev-Medvedev clash.
“So I’m doing everything I can to get back out there... just doing the rehab, doing the gym work.”
He cited the German as inspiration in his battle to regain fitness.
“With Zverev, he’s an incredibly hard worker,” he said.
“He ticks all the boxes and, if someone like that can come back from an injury like that, I think that’s what I have to draw inspiration from for sure.”
On Thursday, Jannik Sinner became the first Italian to reach the last four of the ATP Finals, after Hubert Hurkacz won the second set against Novak Djokovic before losing 7-6 (7-1), 4-6, 6-1.
The world No. 4 is guaranteed at least second spot in the Green Group thanks to the Pole, who was playing his only match as a replacement for the injured Stefanos Tsitsipas, levelling at 1-1.
The Serb, meanwhile, was not guaranteed a semi-final place as his qualification hinged on the result of Sinner’s final match with Holger Rune later on Thursday.
The Italian could deliberately lose to the Dane and knock Djokovic out, denying the 24-time Grand Slam champion the chance of winning a record-breaking seventh Finals. REUTERS, AFP
